LED ZEPPELIN The Origin Of The Species LED ZEPPELIN The Origin Of The Species: How, Why And Where It All Began by Alan Clayson A CHROME DREAMS PUBLICATION First Edition 2006 Published by Chrome Dreams PO BOX 230, New Malden , Surrey KT3 6YY, UK W W W C H R O M E D R E A M S C O U K ISBN 84240 345 Copyright © 2006 by Alan Clayson Editorial Director Rob Johnstone Editor Rebecca Candotti Cover design Sylwia Grzeszczuk Interior design Marek Krzysztof Niedziewicz Front and Back Cover Barry Plummer Inside Photos Barry Plummer LFI Starfile Alan Clayson Archive All rights reserved No part of this book covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or copied in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews where the source should be made clear For more information please contact the publishers A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library LED ZEPPELIN The Origin Of The Species How, Why And Where It All Began A L A N C L AY S O N To the artist otherwise known as Wreckless Eric ‘The distance is nothing It is only the first step that counts’ Mme du Deffand CONTENT About The Author 11 Prologue: The Borrowers 15 The Crusader 21 The Art Student 41 ‘Little Jim’ 47 The Night-Timer 65 The Blackwater Sideman 87 The Listener 97 The Spider 117 The Facilitator 133 The Black Snake Moaner 139 10 The Yardbird 153 11 The Wayfarer 165 12 The Time Server 175 13 The Bandsman Of Joy 187 14 The New Yardbird 195 15 ‘Prince Mario’ 201 16 ‘Bob Plante’ 207 17 The Thunderbird 211 18 The Wishful Thinker 217 19 The Negotiator 223 20 The Occultist 225 21 The Group 237 Epilogue: The Now And Zen Men 255 Discography 273 Index 277 LED ZEPPELIN Jimmy Page in relaxed mood THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES Bonzo in similar pose LED ZEPPELIN Robert, concentrating THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES J PJ, between the two LED ZEPPELIN Clockwise from top: Jimmy on TV aged 14; with Neil Christian and the Crusaders; with Mickey Finn’s band; with Keith Relf and Andy Warhol THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES Jimmy with The Yardbirds 1966–68 LED ZEPPELIN Top: the young Robert Plant Bottom: Robert with Band of Joy, 1968 THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES Top: ‘Percy’ Plant with and without lip hair Bottom: Percy stands up for his rights LED ZEPPELIN The changing face of John Paul Jones… THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES …and of John Bonham (pictured with The Way of Life, top right) LED ZEPPELIN The records that led the way THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES The posters that said it all LED ZEPPELIN The coming together… THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES …and changing the world LED ZEPPELIN: THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES THE FILM - AVAILABLE ON DVD NOW This 75 minute film is the ideal accompaniment to this book, also covering, albeit in greater depth, the years that the future members of Led Zep were struggling in the session studios and amateur band scenes of the 1960s, moving through the modest success of outfits like The Yardbirds and Band Of Joy and culminating in Led Zeppelin’s first two albums as a group verging on huge global domination Features Include Rare musical performances - Obscure footage, rare interviews and rarely seen photographs - review, comment, criticism and insight from: the author of this book and of The Yardbirds, Alan Clayson; Melody Maker journalist, Chris Welch; ex-1960s NME Editor, Keith Altham; Yardbirds guitarist, Chris Dreja; musicians and performers (all of whom worked with Led Zeppelin’s future members in the 1960s) such as, Chris Farlowe, Dave Berry and Clem Cattini, journalists Barney Hoskins and Phil Sutcliffe and others Extras Include Special feature: The Story Of The Yardbirds - Interactive gaming feature ‘The Hardest Led Zeppelin Quiz In The World Ever’ - Contributor biographies AVA I L A B L E N OW at all good music and DVD stores – including HMV, Virgin, Borders and many more, online stores Amazon, Play.com and most others, or from W W W CHR OM E D R E A M S C O.U K – where you can also find other Led Zeppelin items amongst over 1,000 titles on DVD, CD and in book format .. .LED ZEPPELIN The Origin Of The Species LED ZEPPELIN The Origin Of The Species: How, Why And Where It All Began by Alan Clayson A CHROME DREAMS PUBLICATION First Edition 2006 Published... Dave Dee and the Bostons, The Rockin’ Berries, Johnnie Law and the MI5, Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds, Jimmy Crawford and the 34 THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES Ravens, The Barron-Knights - and Johnny... The Species How, Why And Where It All Began A L A N C L AY S O N To the artist otherwise known as Wreckless Eric ? ?The distance is nothing It is only the first step that counts’ Mme du Deffand